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Quick Tip: Use Citrus Oil to Remove Sticky Residue

A couple months ago, I republished this list of ways to repurpose glass jars. Someone asked in the comments about removing the labels, and another commenter responded that orange oil works really well on sticky residue.

I didn’t have any orange oil on hand, but I did have some lemon oil from Laundry Tree. They’re both citrus oils, right? So I gave it a try.
As soon as I did, I knew I needed to tell you about it, because it is amazing how well this works.

I’ve removed sticky tape residue from the girls’ bedroom windows where we’d taped up trash bags to help them sleep. One of the labels I’d put on our 5-year-old’s ballet shoes left some residue behind when I pulled it off, and it took care of that too.

What’s really amazing, though, is we’ve rubbed and washed and scrubbed these jars multiple times, and the residue just doesn’t come off. But with a tiny bit of lemon oil on a rag, I cleaned the jar on the left in just 10 seconds. Yes, I timed it. Ten seconds! The jar on the right had a bit of paper on top of the glue, so it took longer, but even still, I had both done in under a minute.

This is truly the green, all-natural way to deal with sticky residue! You use just a tiny amount of the oil, it works quickly, and there is not a single chemical involved.

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A few things you should know about me: I'm a wife and mother of 6, as well as a full-time work-at-home mom, a passionate entrepreneur, a homeschooler, and an INTJ, with a heavy emphasis on the introvert! And I'm pretty sure fair-trade chocolate, loose leaf tea, and Starbucks lattes are among life's greatest pleasures.